Mama Haiku

I was only going to write one...but Liam was napping, Zionna was playing and I was having fun with it so here are a few.

Loving you fiercely,
remaining calm as I can,
watching you emerge

milk super power,
flying to gymnastics class,
when do I get sleep?

stepped on a toy, OW!
nothing but bills in the mail,
mama needs a hug.

Who is this Polly?
Why must we buy her today?
What happened to books?

Maybe play outside?
Commercialism got you
and I want you back!

want even more... see other mama haiku's at mamasaysom

My Child

Vessel of imagination, reminds me how to play.
Keeping me in constant wonder.
A flow of song throughout my day.
Watchful eyes study my rhythm.
Her independence bringing frustration and joy.
Producing works of art her passion
watching her is mine

random shopping boycott attempt...

FAILED!
I did become more aware of my impulse buys and I am positive that I am purchasing way less junk than I was before. I think I cracked around Easter when I went to load up the baskets. This purchase lead to my demise of other things that I didn't need. However, I now own a very nifty pair of rainbow stripe rain boots (for me, not my daughter.) That kinda impulse by you just have to celebrate!!!! Now if only it would rain... hmmm

Silence

We are plugged in, surrounded by constant background noise. Silence just does not exist in our American world. I see five year olds walking around with ipods plugged into there little heads. To escape from our noisy life we go get a massage and even then we want sound. Sure, it may be a "nature" cd but it's still noise. How often when we are alone in silence do we turn on the TV or the radio. I'm not even counting the noises from our children (for those who have them.) I'm talking about when the children are away or sleeping doesn't something in us just crave noise!? By turning on that background noise what glorious things am I missing?

‘God wasn’t in the wind... He wasn’t in the fire... He wasn’t in the earthquake... but in the gentle whisper.’
From Kings 19:9-12

It has been said that God is like a whisper, like breathing. If we have our ipod on how will we ever hear him?

I love music, and cranking up some songs can make you feel wonderful but sometimes even if it makes us squirm inside we need to just embrace the silence.

Other thoughts on Silence

Surfacing

At what point in our lives do we become whoever/whatever it is that we are going to become. It's a constant change, each day we wake surfacing into something else. Re-surfacing ourselves to fit our environment, our mood, other's expectations. I looked up the definition for surfacing and came up with the following:

1.	the action or process of giving a finished surface to something.

2.	the material with which something is surfaced.

3.	the act or an instance of rising to the surface of a body of water.

Thinking about that makes me wonder just how many times I put a surface on myself that may have been cosmetically pleasing but not solid wood beneath. (and I'm not talking about makeup)

I challenge us to surface as our true self every day.

See what other's had to say about SURFACING

Personal Challenge

I decided today that I am going to challenge myself to be shopping-free for one month. This means I am only allowed to purchase food and gas. No trips to Target, no picking up a magazine at the grocery store, nada!
I really think I'm going to have a problem doing this but I want to try. I am very bad about grabbing little things because they are cute and only 99cents.
Wish me luck! This is going to be hard.

Joy

"Don't let anxiety steal your joy." This was a quote in a book I recieved shortly after becoming a mother. This was the quote that helped pull me out of my postpartum depression, well the quote and some zoloft (sorry Mr. Cruise but sometimes you just need some drugs.)
I still recite this quote to myself on a regular basis at times when the kids are fussy, I'm exhausted, and my husband is hours away from the end of his work day.
Motherhood has so many joyful moments but sadly it is very easy for us moms to get caught up in all the things we must do, or rather the things we never get done and then anxiety builds.
Playing in the backyard with the water hose and sunshine is what we did yesterday and I had to try as hard as I could to not think about the pile of laundry, floors that needed swept, and countless other things that I should be doing. Instead I got out the camera and celebrated the joy that comes with being a mommy in the spring time.
I think the hardest part for me in keeping my joy is when I am up all night (as I was last night) with a very fussy and sick child. I must admit that it is very very hard to find joy in that.
I'm not sure we can always win the battle against anxiety, but as long as I'm trying i am certain I will be in a better, more joyful place.

Joy is the weekly theme over at mamasaysom